He was, for a brief moment, the RFL's chief executive and seemed at the time to be a bold choice. (I remember reading too his beautifully written essay on Wakefield Trinity in one of Dave Hadfield's fine early books - X111 Winters?)

Anyway, one day, he just appeared to vanish from the game without leaving a trace behind.

Whilst on the subject of missing people, does anyone remember this guy? http://www.neilhanson.co.uk/He used to write a regular column in Open Rugby and I also recall him being the presenter of a documentary that was once broadcast about GB's exploits on the PNG leg of a tour. Pity he doesn't acknowledge his sports writing in the review of his career.

Tunnicliffe was a clever bloke, having a doctorate from Oxford, but was CEO at a time when the RFL were playing second fiddle to SLE led by Lindsay and Caisley. Some time after he left he went on record saying the job was impossible at that time as SLE held all the power and blocked almost every initiative he tried to implement. He also explained why the 2000 World Cup was a financial disaster for the RFL - thanks to the ARL according to him.

Anyway, his tenure wasn't as brief as the bloke who succeeded him - Peter Hawarth - who lasted just 2 months in the job before he resigned.

Have you recently walked 500 miles ? Were you advised to walk 500 more ? Did you fall down at someone's door ?

Tunnicliffe was a clever bloke, having a doctorate from Oxford, but was CEO at a time when the RFL were playing second fiddle to SLE led by Lindsay and Caisley. Some time after he left he went on record saying the job was impossible at that time as SLE held all the power and blocked almost every initiative he tried to implement. He also explained why the 2000 World Cup was a financial disaster for the RFL - thanks to the ARL according to him.

Anyway, his tenure wasn't as brief as the bloke who succeeded him - Peter Hawarth - who lasted just 2 months in the job before he resigned.

Thanks Derwent.

I remember reading something about his departure by Dave Hadfield - but it was couched in the most vague terms (deliberately, I suspect) that it left me none the wiser. From this distance it appears that Tunniclffe was treated a little cavalierly. I'd be interested in Rugby League World conducting an interview with him, so that he might be able to give his side of the story. I hope, at the very least, that he still loves rugby league for his piece on Trinity in the aforementioned Hadfield book remains one of the most beautiful things written on the sport.

Whilst on the subject of missing people, does anyone remember this guy? http://www.neilhanson.co.uk/He used to write a regular column in Open Rugby and I also recall him being the presenter of a documentary that was once broadcast about GB's exploits on the PNG leg of a tour. Pity he doesn't acknowledge his sports writing in the review of his career.

I remember Neil Hanson's columns in Open Rugby too - and I can still recall one or two images from his book on Wigan's glory years, especially the characterisation of Shaun Edwards for some reason.

Assuming the Neil Hanson whose website you refer to is one and the same man, then yes it is puzzling that his rugby league output is not mentioned.

I remember Neil Hanson's columns in Open Rugby too - and I can still recall one or two images from his book on Wigan's glory years, especially the characterisation of Shaun Edwards for some reason.

Assuming the Neil Hanson whose website you refer to is one and the same man, then yes it is puzzling that his rugby league output is not mentioned.

It is the same guy. He was also editor of League Express while I worked there. He wrote Mud, Blood & Glory about one year at Wigan RLFC. His book on the Spanish Armada is very good indeed. A real ale buff also. Very nice chap.

Tunnicliffe was a clever bloke, having a doctorate from Oxford, but was CEO at a time when the RFL were playing second fiddle to SLE led by Lindsay and Caisley. Some time after he left he went on record saying the job was impossible at that time as SLE held all the power and blocked almost every initiative he tried to implement. He also explained why the 2000 World Cup was a financial disaster for the RFL - thanks to the ARL according to him.

Yes.

His doctorate was in classical Greek poetry or some such thing. Not really cut out for the politics of being RFL CEO, but a good guy in my book.

It is the same guy. He was also editor of League Express while I worked there. He wrote Mud, Blood & Glory about one year at Wigan RLFC. His book on the Spanish Armada is very good indeed. A real ale buff also. Very nice chap.

Thanks. Next time you see him though, tell him to namecheck his Wigan book on his website!

Yes, there are many of his books not mentioned on that site. He told me a few of the many stories that he wasn't allowed to put in his book on Wigan, (Maurice read the book pre-publication and cut out some sections he didn't want in there), and let's just say it would've been quite a different read!

Yes, there are many of his books not mentioned on that site. He told me a few of the many stories that he wasn't allowed to put in his book on Wigan, (Maurice read the book pre-publication and cut out some sections he didn't want in there), and let's just say it would've been quite a different read!

Yes, there are many of his books not mentioned on that site. He told me a few of the many stories that he wasn't allowed to put in his book on Wigan, (Maurice read the book pre-publication and cut out some sections he didn't want in there), and let's just say it would've been quite a different read!